The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced today that submissions for the 2009 JUNO Awards open on Wednesday, October 1st; giving Canadian artists the opportunity to enter eligible works to be considered for the 38th edition of Canada's Music Awards. The 2009 Juno Awards Weekend will take place in Vancouver, BC, March 26-29, 2009.

CARAS introduces new partnerships and changes to category and voting guidelines.

This year, CARAS has introduced new category guidelines, voting criteria and an all-new partnership with YANGAROO to streamline the judging process. Using YANGAROO's patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) which is a secure, accessible and easy-to-use digital file transfer system, eligible submissions will be distributed electronically to judges during the voting period.

CARAS is also pleased to announce that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be the official ballot accountants for the 2009 JUNO Awards.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Submissions for the 2009 JUNO Awards open October 1, 2008
• Early-Bird deadline (to receive discounted submission rates) is October 22, 2008 before 5 p.m. (EST)
• Final submissions for CRAFT Categories (5-39) must be received by November 12, 2008 before 5 p.m. (EST)
• Final submissions for SALES Categories (3-4) must be received by January 7, 2009 before 5 p.m. (EST)

2009 eligibility applies to works released during the period between September 1, 2007 to November 12, 2008. For a complete list of JUNO Awards categories, eligibility rules, voting criteria and submission forms, go to www.junoawards. ca .

Along with the announcement of submission dates and deadlines, CARAS has also introduced significant changes to several JUNO Awards categories effective for 2009.

Voting Criteria Changes: Nominations for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year will now be determined based on split criteria of 50% sales and 50% Academy member votes, with the winner decided by a final Academy members' vote.

Category Crossover: Aboriginal Album of the Year* and Contemporary Christian /Gospel Album of the Year can now cross over into another genre category (provided the album meets the specific genre category criteria). *Aboriginal Album of the Year is now a FULL album category. Single track submissions will no longer be considered for this category.

Voting: To receive voting ballots for 2009 Single of the Year, Group of the Year and Artist of the Year, participants must be current
CARAS members as of December 1, 2008. For all other member-voted categories, voters must be current CARAS members prior to February 1, 2009. Registrations received after this date will be ineligible to vote for the 2009 JUNO Awards.

Sponsors of The 2009 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's "Canada Music Fund," The Province of British Columbia, The City of Vancouver and Radio Starmaker Fund.

About CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to reserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on the 38th
Annual JUNO Awards or the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS) please visit our websites at www.carasonline.ca and www.junoawards.ca.